Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

Can a twelve-step program help Sadie kick her unrequited crush for good? Abby McDonald serves up her trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly one-sided. The object of her obsession — ahem, affection — is her best friend,Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie’s feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep blue eyes).

For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett’s constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to ’80s indie rock — all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder — until he calls to say he’s fallen in love. With some other girl! A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she’s finally had enough. It’s time for a total Garrett detox!

Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized self-help guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

My Thoughts:I've enjoyed reading all of Abby McDonald's previous YA novels but Getting Over Garrett Delaney has easily become my new favourite of hers to date! It was a fun and cute contemporary novel that left a smile on my face, capturing the lightness of summer and all the aspirations it holds.

For two years, Sadie has been in love with her best friend, Garrett Delaney, and during this time, she's watched him go out with different girlfriends while she can only secretly pine away. But when Garrett goes away to summer camp and calls her to say he's fallen in love with yet another girl, Sadie decides enough's enough and that it's time to crush her unrequited love for good. And when Sadie actively makes a plan to distance herself from Garrett's influence, you can't help but feel proud of her for trying to stop centering her world around a boy who doesn't feel the same way about her.

I absolutely loved the support of Sadie's friend Kayla and her coworkers at her new summer job at a coffee shop. There was such a great group dynamic between them all with their easy companionship and fun personalities that made me laugh out loud. Sadie is a sassy, intelligent teenage girl who was always quick with a comeback... but her feelings for Garrett blinded her from seeing just how much she had changed herself just for a boy. Her friends were up to the task of keeping Sadie on track for her goal to get over Garrett, but they also didn't let her mope around either, making sure she was having fun and pushing her to open herself to new experiences during the summer as well.

With each new release, Abby McDonald's novels seem to be only getting better and better. Getting Over Garrett Delaney is her best novel yet! The romance is light in the novel, but I didn't mind that all because it was still adorable to watch Sadie stumble and have own turn of being oblivious that another boy could possibly like her. But really, this is a novel more focused on self-discovery and of a teenage girl finding herself once again. I cannot wait to read Abby McDonald's next YA novel!

This is Abby McDonald's fourth YA novel and I enjoyed this one the most, for sure! In a way, it took me by surprise by how much I enjoyed it since some of her characters in her past novels could be a bit superficial but Getting Over Garrett Delaney wasn't like that at all. It was a fun read!

About Me

Welcome to Midnight Bloom Reads! I'm Liz, a Canadian girl with a passion for reading. When I'm not escaping reality with a new book, I love to listen to Korean pop music or watch Korean/Chinese dramas.